I got one of these for my 705. Space for the rig, some extra padding and a few extra bits. Not sure it will be my long term solution, but will do for now.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073F7VPWW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_qPd.FbBBSHXXX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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As an interim solution, I am using a LowePro Edit 140 Camcorder bag. The IC-705 fits nicely, including room in the main compartment for the microphone and DC lead. It also has 3 pockets on the outside which I am not yet putting to use.
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Thank you, there was just one of those left in stock on Amazon UK and at only £11 it seems a bargain - so I’ve ordered it. 
Probably a Peli case is the long-term answer but they come in a bewildering range of sizes and with the lockdown set to remain in place for some time there is no rush.
I use a tupperware type container for my current KX3 and past FT-817, and then wrap the KX3 in some bubblewrap. The trick is obviously finding a container just slightly larger than your radio.
73’s
David
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I too use a plastic lunch box. I have done this for several small rigs such as the RS918. I line the sides, bottom and lid with cork. It’s extra weight but good insurance against damage. It would be possible to operate the 705 in the box if a couple of holes were made in the box but it may overheat.
I can add stuff like tent pegs to the pack and not worry about scratching my toy.
73
Ron
VK3AFW
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Lots of earlier posts to review.
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Most of our household food containers have found their way into my SOTA repertoire, whilst most of our food container needs are met by empty ice cream boxes…I think some kind of Brownian motion is at play :o)
(Ice cream boxes are less useful for SOTA than the clip lock type, because the lids can come off in the rough and tumble of a rucksack)
These ABS boxes intended for electrical use are good too, and can be found on eBay etc for little money. The lids are designed to be screwed on, but I use (in this case) the elastic draw string out of an old fleece. This is my 23cm transverter mounted in the box with all leads attached, but I guess there is one to fit a 705
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for my ft817 i just slide it in the puch the back of my rucksack(inside) that houses a frame for the rucksack back. As its the ft817 its pretty hard wearing. Not that i do many activations mind.
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I’ve reduced the number of boxes I use but still have a few self-sealing locking food boxes used to space out one compartment of my bag. It has a stand-off back and has no straight lines inside and boxes waste too much space. I’ve switched to stuff sacks to keep items separated inside. The 817 has been moved around for hundreds of activations inside a bubble wrap bag similar to these.
Being a tight-wad magpie, I noticed when we had new phones delivered to the office, the bubble wrap bag looked to be about twice 817 size so I took all I could find from the rubbish bin. That was in 2008 and I haven’t run out yet. 817 goes in the bag and as it’s about double size, the excess wraps over to add more protection. Water proof and you can operate the 817 from in the bag in bad weather. Once it gets torn or the bubbles burst I get another from the bubble wrap cupboard.
When packing the back, I place the items inside then pull the compression straps to stop everything moving about too much.
Cheap, easy to use, waterproof. YMMV
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Having a bag with a decent fit you can stuff a rig in at all times that will stop water ingress should be considered compulsory, it is much preferable to attempting to fashion something half-assed at the last minute, which I have found myself doing recently!
The FT-817 definitely isn’t waterproof!
Mark.
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Hi John, If you are using a larger (standard) rucksack, it will most likely have a separated bottom section. I found on my large rucksack that an over the shoulder camera bag (I think they are called “messenger bags”) fits nicely in that compartment and that should still be large enough for the IC705 to go inside the camera bag, with its movable “walls” able to hold it safely while in transit. Of course, the other pockets and partitions in the camera bag are useful for accessories. This can keep all the fragile items safely in one place, while the top of the rucksack can hold, the mast, antennas, tent, food and drinks etc. That are somewhat less fragile.
73 Ed.
Something like one of these: (They’re around £20-30 on eBay).
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I like to use expanded polyethylene for padding, it is easy to cut to size and doesn’t crumble like polystyrene or foam:
It is also a common packing material, so it generally costs nothing. As for a container for the IC-705, I would probably just use a lunch box.
73 de OE6FEG
Matt
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I understand your concern about transporting your IC-705. Here is my current solution to the problem.
This is a plastic ammo can designed to carry 4 boxes of shot gun shells so it is very shallow. The radio is held in using a bolt screwed into the camera mount on the bottom of the radio. The radio is sitting flush on the bottom of the case. It is shown with a 3 ah LiFePo battery. I also have a 6 ah battery that fits in the same space. There is a right angle BNC adapter on the radio to help clear the larger 6 ah battery. This is connected to a short piece of coax that goes to a BNC bulkhead connector on the end of the box with the latch. The larger battery also needed to be raised on a small wood block to clear the right angle BNC. The foam in the lid holds the microphone down so it does not come out and scratch the screen. I also unsnapped the clip from the rear of the microphone. There is also space to coil the USB cable while connected and store it in the box. There is a 4 position Anderson power pole block that allows me to connect my 23cm radio and USB charger to the battery. I also made up a shorter power cable and single fuse. The ammo box plastic is heavier than Tupper ware but much lighter than a Pelican Case. I use the lid as a place to put my phone and other small items while operating to keep them out of the dirt or from being lost. With the radio protected it is safe to just throw it into my pack with antennas or coax and not worry.
Burke
KF7NP
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Hi,
Here is my current solution. A simple inexpensive toiletry bag padded with packing polyethylene material.
Included inside: IC-705, DC cable, speaker/microphone, spare fuses and even a second BP-272 battery pack.
It fits inside my backpack and I can operate the IC-705 without taking it outside the protective bag.
73 de Moises
EA4MZ
6 Likes
In the two years that EA4DOS Elena and I have been in the Sota world, reading this Reflector has been a continuous source of knowledge, initiatives and ideas to be developed for a better enjoyment of the activity.
For our part, we have been sharing the passion for the mountain for 51 years, now enhanced by radio activity, in which we have designed multiple elements or accessories that allow us to face the hostile defenses that the mountain sometimes puts on us when we approach it. .
When we consider transporting the equipment, we think of a case from which it does not have to be removed, once we arrive at the place of activation, and it is put into operation with its various connections, batteries, cw key, micro etc.
We present you the images of the case that we have designed and built according to the elements that we use, and based on our experience.
Box with rigid and padded walls, with Velcro closure.
Portfolio for contact list, which at the same time protects the content.
Padded lid like the rest of the inside of the box.
Distribution of the transported.
Content. The yellow flanges of the frequency selector are to facilitate its rotation.
The cw key box is now used to give more amplitude and resonance to the speaker output, when headphones are not used.
When the space at the top is very limited, as in Ref EA4 / MD-055 constituted by a narrow rock, we use the Elecraft AX-1 telescopic antenna.
For its fixation we have provided an accessory that stabilizes it and keeps it attached to the case.
Clamp and snap closure.
Sometimes the strong wind, or an anticipated rain, advises us to use the bothy bag, in which we have made a small hole that allows us to use the antenna arrangement previously presented. Now in Ref EA4 / MD-045.
If that rain surprises us when entering or returning from the mountain, we have created the waterproof cover with a “chimney”, which protects the sensitive material contained within.
Greetings to all, I hope to hear us on the mountain.
EA4DON Alex
73
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This looks just great!
If not too heavy, I’m pretty sure that you could sell something like that.
73 Stephan
Some great ideas there; love the modifications.
73 Matt
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Home made enclosures above look very good. I have a minor concern though.
Some of those materials are very good insulators, and the design of the enclosures do not allow air to circulate, so heat generated in the radio will simply build up. In a cool climate that won’t matter, but in VK summer it would most likely overheat the radio. Allowing for air circulation is essential in higher ambient temperatures.
For this reason I use an enclosure to transport and protect the radio gear, but extract the radio from the enclosure for use.
Andrew VK1DA/VK2UH
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